Just coming from the virtual launch, was lucky enough to get an invite from WOMWorld to attend. Big news, will have to see whether this causes a stock drop for standalone GPS manufacturers like Garmin/Tomtom etc, as the Google Navigation announcement did. This is a lot more far reaching in scope than Googles announcement though, since these maps can be stored, and the roll out is to many countries...

Nokia makes worldwide walk and drive navigation free on its smartphonesAuckland, New Zealand – Nokia today announced that walk and drive navigation is now free on its smartphones as part of a new version of Ovi Maps, available for download at www.nokia.com/maps.

The new version of Ovi Maps will include all essential car and pedestrian navigation features such as turn-by-turn voice guidance for 74 countries in 46 languages, traffic information for more than 10 countries, as well as detailed maps for more than 180 countries.

“We want to make using your mobile for navigation as familiar as using it to send a text or take a picture. We believe that making the best maps with voice guided navigation available for free will be the catalyst to do this,” explained Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia.

"Why have multiple devices that work in only one country or region? Put it all together, make it free, make it global and you have something that is truly useful and can help you get around almost any city in the world whether you’re on foot or driving.”

Five key features that sets Ovi Maps apart from other navigation providers:1. No hidden costsThe new version of Ovi Maps comes with all the maps and high-end car grade navigation features consumers need - for free. And it’s theirs to keep for the life of the smartphone. No additional licenses needed for extra countries, regions or services like traffic information or city guides. Data charges from network operators may apply.

2. Best global coveragePeople can take their mobile with them wherever they go in the world and voice guided navigation for both pedestrians and drivers is available for 74 countries in 46 different languages. There are also maps available for more than 180 countries. And it’s all for free.

3. No network connection required when navigatingConsumers can avoid expensive, battery-draining network connections with Nokia’s unique hybrid technology. Maps can be pre-loaded on to their Nokia smartphone so they can set Ovi Maps to offline mode, saving battery power, while their navigation system still works. This is particularly useful for those worried about data connection costs when travelling overseas or through areas with limited network coverage.

4. Unique hybrid technologyOvi Maps is built on an advanced technology called hybrid vector maps. Vector maps are high quality but less data intensive allowing users to continue to navigate even if they lose their network connection. This means that maps downloaded or updated across a network connection are about half the size of bulky bitmaps used by other mobile map providers. The hybrid technology ensures that, unlike other providers, any downloaded map data is stored on the device for future use.

5. Voice guidance & traffic informationTurn-by-turn, voice guided navigation comes free for both drivers and pedestrians. For drivers this includes lane assistance, traffic information, safety cameras and speed warnings. For pedestrians, this includes shortcuts through parks and pedestrian-only zones for more than 100 cities around the world, as well as 6,000 3D landmarks in more than 200 cities to help people find exactly where they are.

Ovi Maps is immediately available for download on 10 Nokia handsets, including the Nokia N97 mini, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia E72, with more Nokia smartphones expected to be added in coming weeks. Current owners of Nokia smartphones that are compatible with the new Ovi Maps can download it free of charge from www.nokia.com/maps.

From March 2010, new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will include the new version of Ovi Maps, preloaded with local country map data, high-end walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.

The new Ovi maps is a 20MB install to the C: drive, the N97 doesn't have enough space at the present time for that (one of several very bad limitations of the device). They are in the throes of producing a firmware iteration with enough free space on C drive. Its likely to have bad ramifications for the device though, since space will be at an even larger premium then - be prepared for browser out of memory warnings and shutdowns etc...

EDIT: Heh, proved wrong already - just had confirmation that the N97 mini installation file works for the N97. It will leave you with a very anaemic ~20MB free on the C drive. If you can live with that then go ahead and grab your navigation!

EDIT EDIT: Oh, apparently some users are reporting 3.8MB of free space on C after installing to their N97, so go with caution if you're already low on space (less of an issue for those with hacked phones, since they can move things like the browser cache onto the memory card).

Great news, I was waiting for Google maps to do it but this will do the trick BTW - I successfully updated my 5800 from v.3... to v.4.... today via phone - when I tried last week it said no updates available.

This is a great development but I am left wondering exactly which existing phones will be able to take advantage of the free navigation offer. From what I could see none of the Nokias currently being sold by Telecom for XT qualify unless they fall into the category of " more Nokia smartphones expected to be added in coming weeks" as per the Nokia press release.

For example its unclear whether the E71 is eligible for this offer (and I would dearly love to be able to take advantage of it if this phone is included.

Interestingly the Nokia Euro website has the "Free Navigation" promotion already up and running, but this moring the NZ website didn't appear to refer to it at all and still talked about the premium navigation services as a pay for service.

I just installed the E72 download of the software on my N86 on XT. It ate 15mb of C: though so now i only have 3.5mb left. No idea how to find out what i've got installed on C: either so can't really figure out what to remove to free up more space. Anyone know the best way to figure out what's been installed there?

The only way to find out is to hack the phone so you can access the C drive. Hacking will allow you to free further space, for example by moving the browser cache to the memory card. Symbian-freak is your friend if you need more info on that stuff. Its just one of many advantages of hacking your handset.

There is a 5800 version that runs on the XT network frequencies, you'd have to parallel import it though...

Incidentally, many other Nokia handsets are working with installer files from the same ecosystem (ie S60v5 installer for N97 Mini works for N97, S60v3 installer files working in other phones on that iteration of the OS etc etc). Symbian-freak can give you more details.

I expect that the Samsung i8910, providing its hacked, will also be able to run this soon. Its previously been quite simple with a hex editor to remove Nokia's DRM packaging to facilitate this, thereby letting you use their freeware like Sportstracker and the Facebook app outside of Nokia handsets.

baza1: This is a great development but I am left wondering exactly which existing phones will be able to take advantage of the free navigation offer. From what I could see none of the Nokias currently being sold by Telecom for XT qualify unless they fall into the category of " more Nokia smartphones expected to be added in coming weeks" as per the Nokia press release.

For example its unclear whether the E71 is eligible for this offer (and I would dearly love to be able to take advantage of it if this phone is included.

Interestingly the Nokia Euro website has the "Free Navigation" promotion already up and running, but this moring the NZ website didn't appear to refer to it at all and still talked about the premium navigation services as a pay for service.

The E72 is the only phone sold in NZ through official channels that is supported. N97 support is coming soon as mentioned above.

The E71 isn't part of the supported list but I too hope that it is as well. Nokia's biggest problem is the number of handsets that they have to support and their track record of terrible memory management in devices.

The E72 is the only phone sold in NZ through official channels that is supported. N97 support is coming soon as mentioned above.

The E71 isn't part of the supported list but I too hope that it is as well. Nokia's biggest problem is the number of handsets that they have to support and their track record of terrible memory management in devices.

Thanks for that. A quick google shows a lot of people around the world are asking about availability for the E71 (and the N900). Hope Nokia comes up with something.